Hilary Winiarz: 2024 candidate for Lake County Board District 2

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Lake County Board District 2

City: Hawthorn Woods

Age: 55

Occupation: Writer & Product Manager

Previous offices held: Precinct Committeeperson / Ela 82

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I am passionate about making a difference for the people of Lake County by helping them with the everyday needs of living their lives. I want to help shape policy that will protect and enrich workers; provide clean, equitable, well-maintained forest preserves -- all of them; provide badly needed public and mental health services, like within our Victim Support Division; protect reproductive healthcare; provide services that protect families from crime; and ensure our County roads are drivable.

We may not notice these things that are in the Lake County Board's scope as they're happening, but they're vital to making Lake County a great place to live. Serving on the Lake County Board would give me the chance to make this difference for not just my own family and neighbors, but for all the people I would represent in Lake County.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

I want to help more people live, work, and raise their families here in Lake County. One way to do that is nurture small businesses to create more jobs. When people work and live in the same county it reduces their commute and carbon footprint, gives them more family time, and saves them money. I'm also eager to work on measures that give critical attention to our forest preserves. There’s a referendum on this year’s ballot that would allow for hundreds of acres of restoration and improvement after years of deferred maintenance. My district’s Lakewood Complex is just one example. I support the referendum, but if the people of Lake County say no, it will be my job to find another way. Finally, I'm eager to do outreach to my constituents and plan to hold office hours on a regular basis. I'm listening to people as I campaign. If I'm fortunate enough to be elected on November 5th, then on November 6th I'll still be listening and will continue to do so as a member of the Lake County Board.

Describe your position regarding the balance between county spending and revenues as it exists today, then describe the chief threats you see looming in the future and how the county should deal with them.

I support Lake County's fiscally responsible budgeting, efficiently using taxpayer dollars, cutting unnecessary expenditures, yet maintaining emergency Reserves. The County’s AAA Bond Rating drives low interest rates on projects, saving the taxpayers money. The need to use those Reserves falls under the category of "you never know." For instance, our changing climate is a risk, because it only takes one disaster. Or another pandemic is something we can all, unfortunately, relate to. The significant threat I see looming is the potential loss of Lake County government employees. A recent Lake County government compensation study shows that our employees are not being compensated at industry standard market value. If they leave for positions paying more in other counties, they'll take their training, skills, and institutional knowledge with them. I'll support fair, industry standard compensation packages for Lake County employees that include salary adjustments and bereavement leave.

Does there need to be more bipartisanship and cooperation on the county board? If yes, what would you do to help make that happen?

One of the reasons I'm so drawn to service on the Lake County Board is because of the bipartisanship. I've watched the current Board Members work with each other to get our County business done. The responsibilities of the Lake County Board transcend party affiliations. The roads, bridges, and infrastructure improvements don't benefit only Democratic voters; and the forest preserves aren't available to only Republican voters. Our Violent Crimes Unit and Victim Support Divisions don't use crimefighting technology based on party. I'm not always going to agree, but I want to work with Republicans, hear positions that differ from mine, and collaborate to make the best decisions I can for the people in my district; because, that's the job. Service. There's no aisle to reach across at the County Board, members are divided merely by the space between their chairs, and that's how it should be.

What do you see as the greatest need in your district from a county (roads, etc) and forest preserve (facilities, amenities) standpoint?

I've already talked about the referendum that will help our forest preserves. One of the other concerns I am hearing when I meet people at their doors is about landfills and preserving the county's open spaces. Some landfills serve good purposes, but some definitely do not. The ones that serve no one's purposes but the ones dumping their runoff from asphalt, rocks, cement, and toxic substances into our water table have no room in Lake County.

The other concern I hear about more than anything else is healthcare. People in my district want access to mental healthcare and have asked me if I'll fight for reproductive healthcare. Body autonomy is an inalienable human right, and I will always fight for our personal freedom to control our own bodies. That includes procreating when we want and not procreating if we don't want.

What have constituents in your district been asking about that you would like to see addressed in some fashion?

I am talking to voters a lot, and they have shared many concerns with me. In addition to their forest preserve, landfill, and reproductive healthcare concerns, they say they want to know how they can find mental and emotional health services. I will work on outreach to help people in my district access these services.

They also tell me that they want me to help reduce gun violence, and they want me to advocate for open spaces, usable forest preserves, and clean lakes. I cannot wait to address all of these things if I'm elected to the Lake County Board.

Is the county/forest board behind the pay curve compared to other jurisdictions and how can the county/forest board best strive to attract and retain key employees?

Yes, as I mentioned above, Lake County is definitely behind the pay curve for our government employees. The data of the county's worker compensation study clearly shows that our government employees are not adequately compensated. Some are actually leaving their positions here to get higher wages in other Illinois counties.

How can we expect to attract skilled workers and keep them if we don't respect those skills with proper compensation? I also recently learned that bereavement leave is not an included benefit, and that's not acceptable. I take being a good steward of Lake County's budget seriously, but we have to respect our skilled employees with fair pay.

We don't have to drain our budget to pay fair market wages for county employees. Other counties in our region do, so can we. Otherwise, we're going to spin our wheels in an endless set of revolutions training a constant stream of new people over and over again when skilled, institutional knowledge leaves for fairer compensation.

Do you think the forest preserve should proceed with an agreement with Waukegan Port Authority for 52 acres of Waukegan Savanna? Why or why not?

I am glad the Forest Preserve Board is working with the Waukegan Port Authority to address the needs of the airport. However, the Waukegan Savanna land is protected, and as long as that land benefits from that protection, which then serves to benefit Lake County, I will always vote for its best interest. There are good arguments on both sides, but I need to consider what my constituents want. And I'll make sure I listen to their opinions when the time comes to vote on this.

Is there a general issue or concern on your radar you would like to see the county/forest board address?

The quality of life for the people of Lake County is my highest priority. That would include Lakewood Forest Preserve. I live close enough to walk there, and its current state is one of the issues that made me want to run for the Lake County Board. I'm eager to work on native plant and animal species measures. I

want to work with our board members on renewable energy opportunities. I've also recently heard about tiny homes for veterans and others, which is a compelling possibility to address the affordable housing shortage in Lake County. And I'm going to support our state’s attorney's office on crime-fighting measures that continue the downward trend of crime here in Lake County. I want to do all I can to preserve and improve the quality of life in Lake County.